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The Darlington Arts society is supporting local charities in Darlington and the North East to coincide with our annual exhibitions, to help raise awareness and funds for charity.We discussed which charity we should support for the first year. Margaret asked if Muscles for Mitchell could be considered.Margaret Wake is a valued and much loved member of the society for many years. Mitchell is Margaret’s grandson.In September 2014, Mitchell was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a rare, genetic neuromuscular condition caused by a mistake in the genetic code leading to a lack of production of a protein called dystrophin. It is a serious condition that causes progressive muscle weakness. This explains why Mitch finds it hard to keep up with his friends, why he falls down a lot and why he tires easily.About 100 boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy are born in the United Kingdom each year. The natural course of the disease means that muscle fibres break down and are replaced by fibrous and or fatty tissue causing the muscle to gradually weaken. As with other muscles in the body, the disease eventually affects the heart and impairs respiratory functioning and significantly limits life- expectancy.There’s currently no cure for the condition, but it is a time of hope in terms of research into potential treatments for the condition. Muscles for Mitchell was created to raise awareness of the condition and to raise essential funds to support research. All monies raised through Muscles for Mitchell go directly towards funding vital research to find suitable treatments for the disease. At present this is through the registered Duchenne charity Harrison’s Fund whose goals reflect our own. Darlington Society of Arts chose to support this fundraising campaign to help raise money towards the development of treatments needed to fight DMD.One of the first fundraising events we are holding is to hold a stall at the Sunday Darlington market and sell our art in November. All money raised will go straight to Muscles for Mitchell and to funding research. Please check this page for further updates over the next 12 months.If you wish to read more on muscles for Mitchell, please check out their online presence:https://www.justgiving.com/MusclesforMitchellhttps://www.facebook.com/MusclesforMitchell​